The First Venerable of All Paths

"Master, you......."

Before Uncle Fu could finish speaking, Qian Huaizhou snapped his neck.

"Take Uncle Fu away for a proper burial!"

Qian Huaizhou wiped his hands and spoke in a gloomy tone.

"Father, what should we do?"

Qian Cheng said with a look of fear, "Now that the Fang family and the Li family have formed an alliance, the Fang family will definitely not let us go."

"What's the panic?"

Qian Huaizhou reprimanded, saying, "Why did the Fang and Li families form an alliance? Isn't it because they're afraid of the Su family?"

"Yes, we still have the Su family!"

Qian Cheng's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "Father, shall we go and beg the Su family now? We're working for the Su family, they won't just stand by and watch us die, will they?"

"Do I need you to remind me?"

Qian Huaizhou said irritably, "I sent people to the Su family a long time ago, and I expect to hear back soon."

"Master, something terrible has happened!"

At this moment, a member of the tribe rushed over, his face pale.

"What happened?"

Qian Huaizhou said, "Didn't I tell you to invite Patriarch Su over for a chat? Why did you come back alone?"

"I couldn't even get inside the Su family's gate."

The clansman said with a mournful face, "Only the gatekeeper of the Su family asked me to pass on a message to you."

"What did you say?"

He said that from now on, the Qian family should fend for themselves.

Although he had expected it, Qian Huaizhou's eyes still flashed with anger upon hearing these words.

"Su Chongming, I'll curse my ancestors!"

Enraged, Qian Cheng cursed loudly, "We've done so much for them, and now that our Qian family is in trouble, they refuse to help us! They're a bunch of ungrateful bastards!"

"Father, should I go find Su Yang?"

Qian Cheng said, "I don't believe they really want to abandon our Qian family."

"never mind."

Qian Huai sighed and said, "Su Yang will not see you. Even if I go in person, the Su family will not see you. Don't humiliate yourself."

"Are we just going to leave like this?"

Qian Cheng gritted his teeth and said, "I'm very unwilling to accept this."

"What can I do if I'm not willing to accept it?"

Qian Huaizhou said, "Who told us to misjudge people and actually believe that bastard Su Chongming's words?"

"Immediately issue the order: leave Qingyang County tonight!"

Qian Huaizhou made a decisive statement, saying, "I want to see who will still work for the Su family after this!"

That night, the Qian family hurriedly packed up and left Qingyang County in a panic.

......

"Father, will we ever come back?"

Outside the city, Qian Cheng sat in a carriage, looking back at Qingyang County with mixed feelings.

"Why did you come back?"

Qian Huaizhou said, "Now, the Su family and the Fang family are like oil and water. No matter which side gains power, there will be no place for us to stay."

In just half a day, the head of the Qian family, a martial arts master at the Condensation Realm, seemed to have aged ten years.

His entire being seemed drained of energy, and his eyes were dull.

"So, where do we go next?"

Qian Cheng said, "With so many clansmen, it's impossible for them to live a nomadic life with us, is it?"

"Let's go to Mingyang County."

Qian Huaizhou said, "I have a friend over there. I'll go and stay with them first, and then we'll think about what to do next."

"Alright, I'll do whatever Father decides."

Qian Cheng nodded, intending to take a rest.

Ever since Fang Xuan crippled his cultivation, he has become prone to fatigue.

The family suffered another misfortune, leaving this former eldest son of the Qian family feeling physically and mentally exhausted.

Looking at the sleeping Qian Cheng, Qian Huaizhou managed a weak smile.

Although his son's cultivation was ruined, he has matured a lot compared to before.

As long as he is alive, he will protect his son from being bullied.

Just as Qian Huaizhou was about to close his eyes to rest, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Outside, a series of panicked screams came from outside.

"What happened?"

Qian Huaizhou suppressed his anger and coldly questioned the driver.

"Master...Master, please come down and see for yourself."

Qian Huaizhou frowned, took off his coat and covered Qian Cheng with it, then lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage.

He looked up and his expression changed.

On the official road ahead, a young man carrying a sword case stood in the middle of the road, looking at them with a smile.

It wasn't just the young man in white who made the convoy stop.

It was a brown bear behind him.

The brown bear exuded a heavy, bloody aura, causing the horses pulling the cart to stamp their hooves in panic.

Qian Huaizhou recognized it at a glance: it was a demon king!

A martial artist comparable to the Qi Condensation Realm.

Even in terms of actual strength, he surpasses him.

Qian Huaizhou took a deep breath and walked towards the white-clad youth.

"Master, be careful!"

An elder of the Qian family wanted to stop Qian Huaizhou.

"Don't worry, if he wants to kill me, no one can stop him."

Qian Huaizhou shook his head and continued walking forward.

Seeing this, the elders exchanged glances and quickly followed.

"I wonder if Young Master Fang is waiting here to see us off, or... to kill us?"

Qian Huaizhou stopped and smiled slightly at Fang Xuan, his tone revealing no trace of nervousness.

Fang Xuan smiled calmly: "That depends on what Patriarch Qian chooses."

"Does it make a difference whether I choose it or not?"

Qian Huaizhou countered with a question.

"If Patriarch Qian wants me to see him off, then you alone will die."

Fang Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile as he said, "If Patriarch Qian chooses the latter, then this place is large enough to accommodate all of the Qian family members."

"Fang Xuan, you brat, don't push your luck!"

Before Qian Huaizhou could speak, an elder from the Qian family behind him angrily said, "We've already left Qingyang County, what more do you want?"

Fang Xuan glanced at the Qian family elder and chuckled softly.

"Awooo!"

The next moment, the brown bear demon king behind him roared and rushed out like a whirlwind, slamming out his huge fist.

"puff!"

This elder of the Qian family, who was at the Qi Gathering Realm, was smashed into a bloody mist by the Brown Bear Demon King without even the slightest chance to fight back.

He couldn't even let out a scream.

The whole process was fast and ruthless.

It wasn't until this elder died tragically that the other members of the Qian family reacted, and they looked at the brown bear demon king who had returned to Fang Xuan's back with horror.

"Fang Xuan, what exactly do you want?"

Qian Huaizhou forcibly suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice, "Do you really intend to wipe out my Qian family?"

"Why does Master Qian say that?"

Fang Xuan looked puzzled and said, "Haven't the Qian family always wanted to wipe out my Fang family?"

"I......"

These words left Qian Huaizhou speechless.

The other members of the Qian family also remained silent.

Just as Fang Xuan said.

Over the past three years, relying on the Su family's backing, the Qian family has been constantly encroaching on the Fang family's assets, and their actions have become increasingly outrageous.

Now that their roles have been reversed, the Qian family cannot accept this reality.

"You chose this path yourselves, so you can't blame anyone else."

Fang Xuan said calmly, "As the young master of the Fang family, it is natural for me to seek justice for my family members who have been bullied by the Qian family."

Qian Huaizhou then suddenly remembered.

Previously, when the Fang family took back Zhenyao Pavilion, they sent the corpses of several members of the Qian family to their door, asking him to personally apologize.

At the time, Qian Huaizhou did not take it seriously.

Relying on the Su family's backing, he completely disregarded Fang Xuan's words.

So much time has passed, he thought Fang Xuan had forgotten.

Unexpectedly, the other party was waiting for him here.

"Young Master Fang, it is indeed true that my Qian family was at fault in this matter."

Qian Huaizhou clasped his hands in a fist salute to Fang Xuanyi and bowed, saying, "But I have already returned all of the Fang family's assets, and the family's accumulated wealth over the years has also been taken by Young Master Fang. Why not spare the Qian family's life?"

Qian Huaizhou adopted an extremely humble attitude.

It could even be said that he was asking a junior for help as the head of the family.

"Master..."

The Qian family members watched with red eyes and furious expressions, wishing they could fight Fang Xuan to the death.

"I, Qian, hereby swear that from this day forward, I will never again oppose the Fang family."

Qian Huaizhou declared, "I will never again set foot in Qingyang County!"

"not enough!"

Fang Xuan said coldly, "Patriarch Qian, we are both sensible people. The reason you bowed your head today is simply because you lost the Su family as your backer."

"If one day you find a more powerful backer, even if you break your oath, you'll probably still seek revenge against me, won't you?"

"I......"

Upon hearing this, Qian Huaizhou trembled, his heart filled with shock.

That's exactly what he thought.

The reason he readily moved his entire family out of Qingyang County was to seek another powerful patron.

Then, when the Fang and Su families are both severely weakened, we can wash away these humiliations.

However, the boy in front of him saw through his thoughts.

So, put away those little schemes of yours.

Fang Xuan said without any politeness, "Either you die, or your entire clan dies. The choice is yours!"

Upon hearing this, everyone, including Qian Huaizhou, turned extremely pale.

But some of the tribesmen showed fear in their eyes.

They didn't want to die.

"Master!"

The Qian family elder gritted his teeth and said, "If all else fails, we'll fight him to the death! It's the same as dying anyway!"

"right!"

Another person chimed in, "Anyway, it's just him alone. If all of us go at him together, at least we can take him down with us!"

Ultimately, only a minority of the Qian family chose to fight to the death.

More often than not, people remain silent.

"Heh, do you really think you can kill him?"

Qian Huaizhou gave a bitter smile and said, "He dared to show up here today; surely he has a backup plan?"

"But......"

Just as a clansman was about to speak, Qian Huaizhou raised his hand to stop him.

He looked at Fang Xuan and said, "Young Master Fang, if I die, will you really let the others go?"

"Master Qian, now that things have come to this, do you still have a choice?"

Fang Xuan said calmly, "From the moment I appeared here, you lost your right to negotiate with me!"

Upon hearing this, Qian Huaizhou gave a bitter smile.

"You're right, I really didn't have a choice."

As he spoke, he bowed to Fang Xuan again: "I hope that Young Master Fang will keep his word and exchange my life for the life of the entire clan."

"Master, no!"

Many members of the Qian family burst into tears.

"No one is allowed to cry!"

Qian Huaizhou gave a cold shout to stop everyone, then softened his tone and said, "Now, as the head of the family, I hereby announce a family rule."

Qian Huaizhou looked around, memorizing everyone's faces, and said, "Under no circumstances should you depend on others!"

"Have you memorized everything?"

Qian Huaizhou shouted those words.

"Got it!"

All the tribesmen roared in unison, tears streaming down their faces.

"In my arms."

Qian Huaizhou looked at a middle-aged man beside him and said softly, "From now on, the Qian family is in your hands. Treat Cheng'er well."

"Big brother!"

Qian Huaizhong grabbed Qian Huaizhou's hand, fighting back tears, and said, "Don't worry, from now on, Cheng'er is my own son!"

"well."

Qian Huaizhou smiled with relief, but suddenly his body trembled, a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and his life force quickly vanished.

He cut off his own chance of survival and chose to end his own life.

He stood firmly until his death.

His eyes widened as he stared in the direction of Qingyang County.

"Master!"

All the Qian family members knelt down, wailing and crying.

Inside the carriage.

Qian Cheng, fast asleep, had tears streaming down his face, but he did not wake up.